---
title: "Turkey Stun Hosts USA With Stoppage-Time Winner at the World Cup"
description: "Kaan Ayhan struck deep into stoppage time to give Turkey a 3-2 win over the United States in their Group D finale at the World Cup — a painful late blow for the co-hosts, who still finished top of the group and advanced."
category: "Sports"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/sports
author: "Maya Coleman"
published: 2026-06-26T04:12:46.000Z
updated: 2026-06-26T04:12:46.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/turkey-stun-hosts-usa-with-stoppage-time-winner-at-the-world-cup
tags: ["World Cup 2026", "Turkey", "United States", "Group D", "football"]
---
# Turkey Stun Hosts USA With Stoppage-Time Winner at the World Cup

Kaan Ayhan struck deep into stoppage time to give Turkey a 3-2 win over the United States in their Group D finale at the World Cup — a painful late blow for the co-hosts, who still finished top of the group and advanced.

The United States suffered a dramatic late defeat in their final World Cup group game, beaten 3-2 by Turkey on a stoppage-time goal — though the co-hosts had already done enough in earlier matches to reach the knockout rounds.

## A fast start undone

The Americans could hardly have begun better at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, going ahead inside the opening minutes through Auston Trusty from a corner, [the match record shows](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/285023/289273/400021459). But Turkey hit back quickly: the young Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler equalized around the 10th minute, and Turkey added a second before half-time to lead 2-1.

The US responded after the break, with Sebastian Berhalter leveling early in the second half to make it 2-2. As the match moved deep into added time, it looked set to end level — until Kaan Ayhan turned the ball home in the closing seconds of stoppage time to win it for Turkey, 3-2, [NBC News reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/live-blog/fifa-world-cup-games-2026-june-25-live-updates-rcna351748).

## What it means

For all the late drama, the defeat did not cost the United States their place in the next round. Two earlier wins left them top of Group D, [according to the group table](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_D), with Australia advancing in second and Paraguay third, in contention for one of the best-third-place spots in the expanded 48-team tournament. Turkey, despite the win, finished bottom and were eliminated.

For the hosts, the result is more a warning than a wound: they conceded a late goal and could not hold a second-half lead, questions their coaching staff will want answered before the knockout rounds, where such lapses are punished. For Turkey, it was a consolation on a disappointing campaign — and a moment in the spotlight for Güler, one of Europe's brightest young talents, and for Ayhan, whose late strike earned a memorable, if dead-rubber, victory over a host nation.

## Sources

- [Türkiye 3-2 USA — result and highlights](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/285023/289273/400021459)
- [2026 FIFA World Cup Group D](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_D)
- [World Cup live: Turkey score in final moments to beat US 3-2](https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/live-blog/fifa-world-cup-games-2026-june-25-live-updates-rcna351748)